Kaleidoscopic view

 A week ago I had a great pleasure of being interviewed by guro Tom Edison Pena of the FMA Discussion crew. During the chat, besides an overview of my background and journey in the martial arts, we touched upon several training related subjects. It mostly presents my views about the role of the instructor(s) in conducting the training for the adequate results and with proper approach. 

Some of you may be already familiar with some of the things stated here, but if you would prefer to watch and listen to me go on about various topics, check it out.

Here is a rough outline of the contents:

03.55 - Early beginnings and first steps in MA

14:00 - Physical attributes in technical development

22:05 - Starting RMA and learning perspectives

24:15 - Introduction proper to FMA

29:55 - Encounter with Lameco eskrima and doing long-distance learning

40:20 - Appreciating unpaid instruction

41:10 - Teaching as a learning tool

42:48 - Validity of training approaches

45:03 - Contextual functionalist

47:05 - Stint in MMA; on competition in general

53:30 - Role of luck

56:20 - Alex Zhelezniak and ACT system

57:40 - Teaching/Coaching methodologies

59:40 - Curriculum shortcomings

1:02:50 - Instructors vs Coaches

1:07:00 - Meeting Luis Preto and learning Jogo do Pau

1:11:15 - Tactics as a decision making process

1:12:15 - Mindset foundation for training

1:13:45 - Benefiting from Internet communication

1:18:00 - Importance of cultural and historical background

1:19:30 - Role of "flow" drills

1:23:45 - Forms pros and cons

1:30:50 - Differences between good athletes and coaches

1:33:05 - Sending students elsewhere for their sake or group sake

1:40:54 - Private vs group class

1:41:55 - Some recommended online FMA programs

1:47:54 - Importance of fundamentals and creative application

1:49:57 - Main requirements for teachers/instructors

1:51:35 - Need for education

1:55:40 - Craft before art

1:59:00 - FMA as a community?

Having done the interview, I believe there will be more articles on certain subjects mentioned, because as great as my host was, the boundaries of the format and flow of the conversation didn't necessarily get the fully fair insights into some of those. 

Bisaya eskrima DVD

I first met Bruno Cancho back in 2008, while on my honeymoon to Barcelona. Previously I had asked one of my arnis/eskrima instructors Dan Lamac about anyone to see for some lessons in that part of Spain, and owing to Dan’s recommendation and contacts Bruno agreed to see me. He happened to be a great guy and an excellent proponent of medio-corto approach, due to his training in Koredas Obra Mano and Balintawak systems of FMA.

Bruno Cancho...

Far forward another decade, and Bruno has spent so much time in the Philippines in the meantime that one has to wonder now if that has not become his actual homeland. His extensive study of Visayan styles of arnis and eskrima turned him into a top notch instructor in his chosen field, i.e. medio and corto ranges of combat. It was, therefore, with great joy that I saw the publishing of his instructional DVD about his school, titled “Bisaya Eskrima, vol.1”.

According to Bruno himself, his system is comprised of 20% long range material (largo distance), so naturally he chose to focus the first video on closer range, as he refers to it corto serrada, utilizing single stick. Even more importantly, this material, to my knowledge, is the first commercially available instructional video on the not widely known school of Arnes Diablo which stresses empty-handed defense against knife attacks.

...and his new work

Regarding the stick, the material covers the basic angles of attack and corresponding blocks and counters, 5 ways of attacking/hitting (nothing to do with the JKD methodology of the same name) and accordingly the five types of counters. Everything is shown as solo and partner practice, plus the very important training method of palakaw.

When it comes to the knife material, shown are the 6 basic angles of attack and their defensive responses, with emphasis on disarming the opponent. Especially interesting is the drilling of follow-up actions after potentially failed primary responses, intertwined with retention options for the knife wielding person.

The quality of the instruction, however, is not the only valuable thing here. Namely, the video is beautifully edited to show the life in the Cebu region of the Philippines, and it gives the viewing experience a special flavor. To top it off, the author features two guest local masters, Rodrigo Maranga of Combate Eskrima Maranga and Danny Vedua of Askal Hybrid Arnis (both offshoots of Balintawak), who demonstrate certain aspects of their respective arts. Complementing these aspects is the fact that the entire footage is recorded outdoors – stick portion either in the parks and woods of the Philippines; knife segment in the back alleys of Cebu, thus giving it additional air of authenticity. NOTE: with the exception of guest instructors, who speak English in the video, the instruction is done in Spanish. Still it did not diminish the viewing and learning experience, because everything is done in such a clear and precise manner (I do not speak Spanish, but maybe my speaking French was of some help in understanding everything).

Going back to my comments of Bruno Cancho’s being a great guy and adopting the Philippines as his second home, the entire profits from the promotional sales of the digital videos were directed to the Doors of Hope organization that deals with prevention and stopping of the sexual abuse of children and women in the Philippines. As if the actual quality of the product were not enough to make you happy about purchasing it, he really did the extra step to make you feel even better about it. You can order the video and see the trailer here:

https://www.bisayaeskrima.com/dvd

In conclusion, this is one of the best FMA instructional videos I have seen produced in the past few years, and I look forward to the second volume.

Sincerity

I have been writing already about the need to discern why are you learning/studying martial arts. But that question does not apply just to the students...If you are teaching martial arts, you have to ask yourself - "Why am I doing this"? What is at all about for you?

See, the thing is, unlike the motives to learn, not every motive to teach is legitimate. And I don't mind people making money from it. No, that is perfectly OK with me, as long as the teacher/instructor is honest about his offer and treats his clientele with due respect. Also, the fact that one may not be charging at all for their instruction does not make them worthy of the teacher title.

My guess is I am not alone in being sick of the types who are looking for some self-aggrandizing experience from teaching, harassing and humiliating their students in the process, all under the excuse of "instilling discipline" or something along those lines. Of course, discipline in itself is not a bad thing, but as long as it is conducive to the better learning and more efficient training process. If, on the other hand, it is a pretense for setting up some sort of unnecessary hierarchy with the sole purpose of blowing the instructor's ego out of proportion and nipping any healthy critical approach and inquisitiveness among the students in the bud... Well, sorry for putting it out bluntly, but then your an asshole and have no business teaching people.

Really? Or is there something more to it...

So what then is the central tenet that "makes it or breaks it" in my opinion? Well, like the title of the post says, it is all about sincerity! And by that I mean the approach to imparting the knowledge on your students.I have been blessed in my martial arts "career" to cross paths and learn from several great teachers, and they all had one thing in common - sincerely doing everything they could to make the student understand and truly learn what they were trying to teach.

Naturally, not all of them have the same teaching methodologies (if they have one in the first place) or philosophy of what they are doing, but they for each and every one of them student comes first! I have seen time and time again Alex Kostic of Homo Ludens Systema inspire awe in people by the way he moves, by the things he says and their eyes going bright for the new insight and another piece of the puzzle finally  falling into place. I have been astonished by Astig Lameco founder, guro Roger Agbulos' ability to captivate the students by the sheer joy of teaching and lighting the fire of desire to train hard and smart, to look for what works and put it all to test. I have been flabbergasted by Mikhail Grudev's managing to overcome the impending linguistic barriers and go out of his way to help the students get the point and have fun while working hard. I have had the privilege of undergoing some intensive training under Jogo do Pau's Luis Preto and admire his keen eye and uncanny capacity to immediately adapt the drill or the exercise to elicit the desired response in the student and make difficult things easier to comprehend.

Quite true

Another high point was seeing master Jon Escudero of LSAI putting his students in the spotlight when demonstrating his system, thus at the same time portraying the effectiveness of the style and his own effectiveness as a teacher. And then there is Steve Maxwell's leading by example and teaching you how to teach yourself; and Daniel Lamac of Koredas eskrima giving it all out without reserve; and Dave Gould of Lameco; Kevin Secours of Combat Systema; Bruno Cancho; Dima Hakimov, and...so on. 

Yes, a good curriculum is helpful, excellent methodology is most welcome. And yet, if you are not teaching for the sake of your students, with no heart in it, but with another agenda that actually has nothing to do with actual teaching...well, do yourself and the world a favor and just leave it.